Apparatus for releasing a water well pipe and pump system



J. P. WATSON Dec. 20, 1966 APPARATUS FOR RELEASING A WATER WELL PIPE AND PUMP SYSTEM Filed Jan. 11. 1965 BY 74 5 WI 40% a am,

United States Patent 3,292,555 APPARATUS FUR RELEASING A WATER WELL PIPE AND PUMP SYSTEM John P. Watson, R0. Box 711, Luling, Tex. 78648 Filed Jan. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 424,762 3 Claims. (Cl. 103221) The present invention relates to a freely releasable Water well pumping and pipe system and particularly relates to such a system wherein a pump is coupled to a pair of flexible pipes.

In the past there has been a considerable problem in manually removing flexible pipes and attached pumps from a water well due to entrapped water adding to the weight that is required to be lifted. These systems have usually been required to be lifted by expenisve power equipment. A pump insertable within a well to pump water such as the jet type or the momentum or inertia type as shown in my patent No. 3,123,009 is commonly connected to a pair of pipes, typically of a light-weight flexible plastic type. Despite the use of lightweight piping, water entrapped within the piping adds greatly to the total weight that is required to be lifted. The present invention is thus directed to an apparatus for draining trapped water from well pipes.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a water well pump and ductile pipe system adapted to release entrapped water thereby being freely removable and obviating the use of handling equipment.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a releasable connection whereby a flexible pipe can be uncoupled from an internal water well pump thereby releasing entrapped water and permitting manual withdrawal of the pipe and pump system from the well.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and ruggedly eflicient and reliably sealed coupling arrangement for flexible plastic pipe attached to a water pump within a well which may readily and easily be detached but is normally held in a sealed and coupled position.

Yet a still further object of the present invention is the provision of a releasable coupling means for use in a water well for a pump having two flexible plastic pipes in which one of the pipes is securely connected to the pump and a releasable coupling is connected between the lower end of the second pipe and the pump and is held in a normally connected position by providing a rotation twist in the second pipe in a direction to lock the releasable coupling, and rotationally securing the top of the second pipe to hold the twist in the second pipe and locking the coupling, and, when it is desired to remove the pump and pipes from the Well bore, disconnecting the top of the second pipe and releasing the releasable coupling to uncouple the second pipe and drain the pipes of water.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a water pump having two flexible plastic operating pipes connected thereto and coupled thereto in a direction so that loosening one of the couplings tends to tighten the other coupling.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, given for the purpose of disclosure and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, where like character references designate like parts throughout the several views, and where FIGURE 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the water pump, two flexible connected pipes and a releasable coupling with suspension means according ice to the present invention, all shown in place for pumping water from a well,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the releasable coupling shown in FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the coupling of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the numeral 10 generally designates the water pump system of the present invention and generally comprises a circulation system which includes an input line 12 through which a continuous circulation of water is pumped to a suitable pump such as jet or momentum pump 14 which in turn is connected to an output line 16. A releasable coupling connects the input line 12 to the pump 14. Both the input 12 and the output line 16 are connected to a conventional surface pump and tank system generally designated by the numeral 20.

The pump 14 is of the jet, momentum or inertia type. Such pump is actuated by receiving a column of water initially pumped by the surface pump means 20 through the input line 12. Water is then drawn from the well supply 13 through the liner 22 into the pump 14 and is forced to the surface through the output line 16.

Thus, in normal ope-ration the pump 14 and the lines 12 and 16 are filled with water. The pump is a lightweight device, and the pipes 12 and 16 are flexible plastic lines. Therefore, the entire pump system 10 can easily be installed in a well bore 26 :by hand and without expensive handling equipment. However, when it is required to remove the system 10 for repair or reworking, expensive handling equipment is required since the pipes of the system 10 are filled with Water and quite heavy. And since the pipes 12 and 16 are of flexible plastic they are limber, cannot transmit high torque forces, and thus the normally threaded couplings cannot be unscrewed.

Thus it would be desirable to provide a pump system which could be readily disconnected to dram the system of water. One of the pipes, such as 16, is connected by conventional fittings such as a threaded fitting 24 to the pump 14.

A releasable coupling 18 is provided connected to the pump 14 as well as the line 12 and includes an L-slot and a lug as will hereinafter be explained in detail. The coupling 18 permits the lower end of the line 12 to be disconnected from the pump 14 while still in position in the well bore by merely turning the pipe 12 at the surface end thereof and lifting, thereby causing the L-slot and lug coupling to disconnect and release the line 12 from the pump 14. Upon disconnection of the coupling 18, entrapped water present in the line 12 and in the line 16 drains from the system. The lightweight line 12 is thus free to 'be manually removed from the well bore without the added weight of Water in the line. Like-wise, the lightweight output line 16 with the attached pump 14 can now manually be removed without entrapped water. Advantageously, a suspension harness 17 is provided to secure the line 12 to the pump 14 upon disconnection of the coupling 18, thereby facilitating removal of the pump and pipes as a unit.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, the L-slot and lug coupling 18 of FIGURE 1 is shown having a female receptacle 28 and a male receptacle 30. The female receptacle member 28 is provided with an L-slot 32 at its operation end to engage'ably receive a lug 34 mounted on the operational end of the male receptacle member 30. A plurality of L-slots- 32 and matching lugs 34 are desirable to provide a more effective seal in the coupling joint 18. The coupling 18 as shown, is disconnected by rotating the female receptacle 28 in a counterclockwise direction and pulling said receptacle 28 away from the male receptacle 36. The suspension harness 17,

which may be constructed of a suitable material for use in a water well, is adapted as shown in FIGURE 2 to permit release of the female receptacle member 28 from the male receptacle member 30 while providing means to secure the line 12 to the pump 14 for removal of the pump and pipes as a unit. The suspension harness 17 is provided with loops 19 concentrically engaging the neck 27 of the female receptacle 28 as well as the neck 29 of the male receptacle 30. rent that such an easily disconnectable coupling, as compared to a threaded coupling, is desirable for use in a water well to provide a simple means for disconnecting a flexible plastic pipe from a pump.

Detail of construction of the L-slot coupling 18 is shown in FIGURE 3. The view of the coupling is similar to that in FIGURE 2 except that the coupling is rotated 90 degrees axially in FIGURE 3. Both the female receptacle 28 and the male receptacle 30 have an internal axial passageway 36 permitting fluid flow through the coupling. The female receptacle 28 is provided with gripping teeth 38 at its nonoperational end to engage the interior of the flexible inlet pipe 12. Means other than the teeth 38 may be utilized to engage the pipe 12 with the female receptacle. 28 if desired. The operational end of the female receptacle 28 is provided with an inner annular recess 40 in addition to L-slots 32 to connectably engage the male receptacle 30.

The male receptacle 30 as shown in FIGURE 3 is provided with screw threads 42 at one end thereof for convenient connection to the well pump 14. Conventional pipe fittings are used to effect such as connection. The operational end of the male receptacle 30is provided with lugs 34 to engage the L-slots 32 of the female receptacle 28. In addition, the male receptacle 30 is adapted at its operational end to fit within the annular recess 40 of the female receptacle 28. An annular groove 44 is also provided on the outer surface near the operational end of the male receptacle 30 to receive a resilient O-ring which creates a seal when in contact with the inner annular recess 40 of the female receptacle 28.

While the releasable coupling 18 is easily disconnected by a small rotational movement of the female receptacle 28, it is necessary that coupling 18 not become prematurely disconnected while in use. Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a locking force by the resilient flexible pipes to hold the coupling in a normally connected position. Thus when the pump system is assembled the line 12 is rotated, in the case shown, in a clockwise direction to securely hold the lug 34 in the circumferential portion 35 of the slot 32. Because of the resiliency of the pipes, the lug 34 will thus remain in the slot portion 35 as the pump system is installed and the vibration of the pump during operation will not accidently cause the coupling 18 to become disconnected. However, the top end of pipe 12 must be securely held to prevent release of the twist or locking force inserted in the line 17 so as to hold the coupling 18 in a locked position. Thus, the upper end of the pipe 12 is secured to the surface tank such as by elbow 50 and a conventional threaded coupling 52. And while not absolutely essential, it is alsodesirable to place a torsional force in line 16. and secure its upper end to the tank 20 such as by. elbow 54 and coupling 56 to maintain the torsional force applied to line 12 thereby preventing the tors-ion in line 16 from unwinding into line 12 and reducing the looking force applied to coupling 18.

In operation, the output line 16 is conventionally con nected by the jet fitting 24 to water well pump 14. Further connected to the pump 14 is the input line 12, which is constructed of lightweight flexible plastic pipe or tubing and joined to the pump 14 by the L-slot and lug coupling 18. Thus connected, the resulting arrange- 611 iS lowered into a Water Well and connected to pump It becomes appa- 4 and tank means 20 for normal operation. However, the pipe 12 and preferably also pipe 16 is torqued or twisted prior to connection to the surface pump 20. Thus, a clockwise torsional force is applied to both pipes 12 and 16 which tend to tighten especially the releasable coupling 18 and the connection to the pump 14. The top ends of the pipes are then secured to pump means 20 thereby securing the torsional forces in the resilient pipes. When removal of the pipes 12 and 16 and pump 14 from the well 26 is necessary for service or replacement, the utility of the present invention becomes evident. To effect such removal, the flexible pipe 12 is disconnected from the surface pump means 20 and is manually twisted or turned in a counterclockwise direction to cause the female receptacle 28 of the coupling 18 to disconnect from the male receptacle30 which is attached to the pump 14. It is to be noted that the counterclockwise rotation of line 12 tends to tighten line 16 to pump 14 thereby eliminating the possibility of disconnecting .line 16 and leaving pump 14 in the well bore. The line 12 is thus capable of manual removal from the well bore 26 without the added burden of lifting water en'- trapped in the line. Likewise, the line 16 with the attached pump 14 is disconnected at the surface and pulled from the well as entrapped water is drained. The overall result is a lightweight pump system 10 for use in the water well which can be manually removed. The present invention permits easy withdrawal of the system from the well without having to lift water entrapped in the system.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of this invention is given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in details of construction, and arrangement of parts will be made which will readily adjust themselves to those skilled in the art and which are. encompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a water well pipe and pump system which can means for securely connecting the first pipe to the pump, and coupling means connecting the second pipe to the pump means for permitting disconnection of said pipe from said pump means by manual turning and lifting action, said coupling means including,

a first receptacle having at least one L-slot on one end thereof and means on the other end for attaching said receptacle to said second pipe,

21 second receptacle having at least one projecting ing for interaction within the L-slot of the first receptacle and. further having an annular recess on the outer surface near said end and means at the outer end attaching the second receptacle to the pump, and

means at the surface connected to and rotatively securing said second pipe whereby the second flexible pipe may be rotated in a direction to securely lock the lug and L-slot priorto securing said means to the second pipe.

2. In a water well having a pump and first and second resilient plastic pipes, the improvement of a releasable connection for draining the pipes of water for easily removing the pump from the Well comprising,

said first pipe securely coupled to said pump,

releasable coupling means connecting the second pipe to the pump including first and second receptacles, said first receptacle having at least one L-shaped slot, said second receptacle having a lug for coaction in said Lshaped slot to releasably couple the first and second receptacles together,

said second pipe being rotatably twisted in a direction to securely lock said releasable coupling, and coupling means connected to the top of said second pipe for normally rotatably holding the twist in said second pipe for securely locking the releasable coupling but which can be disconnected for releasing the twist and disconnecting said releasable coupling.

3. In a water well having a pump and first and second resilient plastic pipes, the improvement of a releasable connection for draining the pipes of water for easily removing the pump from the well comprising,

said first pipe securely coupled to said pump,

releasable coupling means connecting the second pipe to the pump including first and second receptacles, said first receptacle having at least one L-shaped slot, said second receptacle having a lug for coaction in said L-shaped slot to releasably couple the first and second receptacles together,

said second pipe being rotatably twisted in a direction to securely lock said releasable coupling,

suspension means permitting release of said first receptacle from said second receptacle yet securing said second pipe to said pump, and

coupling means connected to the top of said second pipe for normally rotatably holding the twist in said second pipe for securely locking the releasable coupling but which can be disconnected for releasing the twist and disconnecting said releasable coupling.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,649,454 11/ 1927 Fitzpatrick l03-221 2,363,644 11/ 1944 Collins 103-221 2,786,417 3/1957 Lung 103-5 3,070,019 12/1962 Sies 1035 ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A WATER WELL PIPE AND PUMP SYSTEM WHICH CAN BE LIFTED FROM THE WELL MANUALLY WITHOUT ENTRAPPING WATER IN SAID SYSTEM AND THUS REDUCING THE WEIGHT TO BE LIFTED, FIRST AND SECOND FLEXIBLE PLASTIC PIPES, PUMP MEANS INSERTABLE WITHIN A WELL TO PUMP WATER THEREFROM, MEANS FOR SECURELY CONNECTING THE FIRST PIPE TO THE PUMP, AND COUPLING MEANS CONNECTING THE SECOND PIPE TO THE PUMP MEANS FOR PERMITTING DISCONNECTION OF SAID PIPE FROM SAID PUMP MEANS BY MANUAL TURNING AND LIFTING ACTION, SAID COUPLING MEANS INCLUDING, A FIRST RECEPTACLE HAVING AT LEAST ONE L-SLOT ON ONE END THEREOF AND MEANS ON THE OTHER END FOR ATTACHING SAID RECEPTACLE TO SAID SECOND PIPE, A SECOND RECEPTACLE HAVING AT LEAST ONE PROJECTING LUG FOR INTERACTION WITHIN THE L-SLOT OF THE FIRST RECEPTACLE AND FURTHER HAVING AN ANNULAR RECESS ON THE OUTER SURFACE NEAR SAID ONE AND MEANS AT THE OUTER END ATTACHING THE SECOND RECEPTACLE TO THE PUMP, AND MEANS AT THE SURFACE CONNECTED TO AND ROTATIVELY SECURING SAID SECOND PIPE WHEREBY THE SECOND FLEXIBLE PIPE MAY BE ROTATED IN A DIRECTION TO SECURELY LOCK THE LUG AND L-SLOT PRIOR TO SECURING SAID MEANS TO THE SECOND PIPE. 